Batting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A three-run third inning propelled the Georgia Southwestern baseball team to a 4-2 non-conference victory over Auburn Montgomery on Tuesday evening at the AUM baseball field.

With the win, GSW improves to 8-27 overall and has strung together consecutive victories for the first time this season. AUM, ranked No. 16 in NAIA, drops to 26-17. The Hurricanes avenged a 4-1 loss to the Warhawks earlier this spring.

For the fourth-straight game, GSW scored first. The Hurricanes wasted no time taking a 1-0 lead when Beau Parker, the third batter of the contest, singled down the right-field line to score John Duran from second.

Southwestern added what would prove to be the decisive runs in the third inning. GSW scored three runs behind three singles, a hit batter and a walk. Zach Moss drove in a run. Randall Sheffield walked in a run with the bases loaded. Chase Young brought home Parker with a sacrifice fly.

AUM would put up its first run of the game in the bottom half of the third. Drew Walker doubled to open the frame for the Warhawks and scored on a GSW throwing error one batter later. Hurricane starting pitcher Hunter Thompson worked out of the inning.

After breezing through the fourth and fifth innings, Thompson ran into a little trouble in the sixth. He retired the first batter of the inning, but two-straight singles gave AUM its second run of the night. Thompson clamped down and worked out of the frame without further damage. He went on to pitch out of the seventh, as well, leaving runners on second and third.

Trent Franzago tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth to garner his first save at GSW. Thompson (2-2) scattered six hits over seven innings, walked three and struck out two.

AUM starter Cory McGinnis (4-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in three innings of action. Will Ruffin and Michael Carden combined to keep GSW scoreless over the final six innings.

Parker, Moss, Michel Coffey and Les Cromer had two hits apiece for the Hurricanes. Cromer reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances with a hit by a pitch and walk rounding out his evening.

The Warhawks did not have a batter with multiple hits.

Southwestern returns home to welcome Georgia College on Friday evening at Hurricane Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.